5 Tips for a Better DIY Manicure

2/19/2020

Photo credit: Moose Photos

Have you followed every guide to the perfect at-home manicure and still come up short?

Seeing Bubbles.

Bubbles.

And more bubbles?

Well this post is for you. Here are some simple tricks to help you overcome a few hurdles to find your perfect at-home manicure.

Watch a Movie that You've Loved a Hundred Times

You know all the words to this movie and still laugh at the jokes. This is the movie that can makes you late because you just have to watch that scene one more time. This staple movie is the perfect companion for your at-home mani.

Tuning into your favorite movie will help you pace yourself and avoid getting bubbles in your manicure. Bubbles happen when we paint our nails before the last coat is completely dry. Guilty. The re-run movie and a mani session helps slow down the process. And since its a movie your seen before, you will be able to move forward with painting the next coat on a dry surface without missing anything on the small screen.

No Cuticle Clipping - Push Them Back Instead

Because cuticle clipping is a wide open door for germs and bacteria. Yuck. Try a cuticle remover like this one from Blue Cross. This milk-colored liquid makes the pushing back process easy. Drip on, let it sit for a minute, then use an orange wood stick or a cuticle pusher to gently push back the cuticles.

Go with a Glitter Polish for Newbies

Glitter polish is more forgiving and wont show air bubbles or chunky paint as much as a non-glitter polish.

Glitter nail polish also tends to cling to the nail a little better than most nail lacquers and chip less when applied in thin coats. I'm three chip-free days into my glitter manicure and I am extremely hard on my hands.

Tip: To remove glitter polish, douse cotton pad with nail polish remover. Hold in place for about 30 seconds before swiping. This allows the nail polish remover to break down the bonds between the glitter.

1 + 2 + 1 = Perfect 10

This is the 'no-fail' formula for an amazing manicure (barring some nail polish formulations).

1 base coat - This adheres to the nail and prevents yellow stains on the nail from polish.

Plus 2 THIN coats of color. Be sure to wait for each coat to dry. Another reason why bubbles form in a manicure is from using thick coats of polish. Wipe excess polish from the brush by pressing the back of the nail brush against the rim of the bottle.

AND finally, add 1 Top coat. The top coat adds shine for days. My preferred top coat, Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat, has self-leveling properties and dries fast with a glassy shine.

Make a Nail Polish Eraser

Ever painted the side wall of your nail. Frustrating, but not a big deal. You can wait until the polish is dry and then wash your hands with soap and water. This will gently remove the polish from your skin.

Or you can use an orange wood stick, cotton, and nail polish remover to create a nail polish eraser. This works better than q-tips because it allows you to get a sharp, precise edge that can swipe polish off the skin without ruining the polished nail. Watch the step-by-step tutorial. I used a cuticle pusher instead of an orange wood stick in the video.

If your mani is still a little less than desirable, especially on the dominant hand, just remember, practice makes better. It may not be perfect right away, but each mani gets you closer to a Perfect 10.